End of Watch (2012)

An honest character-driven drama that breathes new life into a worn-out premise. David Ayer (writer of Training Day) brings audiences into the battlefield of two police officer’s struggles to fight crime in the dark underbelly of the LA streets. The hand-held footage delivers some harsh reality while the banter between Gyllenhaal and Peña creates entirely convincing characters that demand to be watched. The plotting is quite familiar but the superb acting and exciting cinematography make End of Watch an important entry into the canon of cop dramas – * * * 1/2